BISMARCK, N.D. - Approximately 900 college graduates working in North Dakota in science, technology, engineering or math (STEM) - related occupations have been selected to receive student loan forgiveness awards of $1,500 per year, to a maximum of four years This represents a 25% increase from last year.

North Dakota University System Chancellor Ham Shirvani said he is pleased to see that the program, administered by his office, has grown consistently since its inception, This loan forgiveness program, coupled with relevant NDUS academic programs, support ND's employment needs in high technology fields and support economic diversification. This year 893 eligible applications were received and all eligible applicants were funded, an increase of over 25% from last year. The STEM Loan Forgiveness Program was created by the North Dakota Legislative Assembly as an education incentive program to recruit and retain talented workers in North Dakota in high-technology fields.